Monzel: County has bigger needs than Music Hall

By Chris Monzel
12:58 p.m. EDT August 8, 2014

Hamilton County Commissioner Chris Monzel prepares to address a crowd at Wednesday’s meeting shortly before he and Greg Hartmann passed a plan for a five-year, quarter-cent sales tax to renovate Union Terminal.
(Photo:
The Enquirer/Amanda Rossmann
)

On Wednesday, the Hamilton County Commission voted to place a five-year, quarter-cent sales tax on the November ballot to repair the pressing structural needs and provide for the restoration of Union Terminal. I wish to offer some background on the process that brought us to this decision.

Nine months ago, the Tax Levy Review Committee, a board composed of volunteers appointed by the county commissioners, stated the need for a comprehensive plan for Union Terminal as the second five-year property tax-funded operating levy was set to expire in 2014.

In January, a self-appointed group of business leaders formed to create a comprehensive plan for Union Terminal. During this process, Music Hall was added. The addition of Music Hall has taken the focus away from a building that needs immediate attention, Union Terminal.

This is not a county vs. city issue. However, there must be a balance and prioritization of financial obligations that takes into account the entire county.

The Cultural Facilities Task Force presented a 14-year, $331 million plan that included both Music Hall and Union Terminal to the commissioners at the end of June. As the deadline approached for commissioners to decide whether a 14-year sales tax should be placed on the ballot, other looming priorities made it clear that the county could not permit almost all of our taxing authority to be tied up for these buildings as well as the ongoing obligation for two stadiums. It became apparent that the admirable passion shown by supporters at two public hearings and in thousands of emails must be balanced by the hard fiscal realities of providing for the many significant needs in our county.

In addition to these big-ticket items, the commissioners also hear frequent requests from elected county officials to consider upgrades for systems and manpower that are needed to continue providing quality county services. Having weathered several years of economic challenges, we remain hopeful that the local and national outlook will continue to improve, but prudent administration requires a margin of safety to protect public services for our 800,000-plus residents.

These are some of the considerations that went into my resolution opting for a five-year term that will produce approximately $170 million in capital revenue to restore Union Terminal. Taxpayers will be pleased to know that the shortened term of this tax allows the county to avoid $30 million-plus in interest expense that will help complete the funding solution for this building.

I have deep admiration and gratitude for residents in our county that provided over $72.5 million via levy for the renovation, operation and maintenance of Union Terminal over the last 26 years. The sales tax is borne by everyone that does business in Hamilton County, but the final decision to rehabilitate Union Terminal will rest with the voters in November.